Pivotally mounted starter bar in a continuous casting machine

ABSTRACT

A short starter bar is pivotally connected to a radial arm that is power operated and is movable through an angle in a plane to bring the starter bar into cooperative relation with a continuous casting mold. A combination pinch and straightener roll assembly acts on the cast strand to withdraw it from the mold and to disconnect the strand from the starter bar.

United States Patent Hartman Mitchell Pittsburgh, Pa.

Oct. 22, 1969 Dec. 21, 197 1 Koppers Company, Inc. Continuation-impartof application Ser. No. 813,561, Apr. 4, 1969, now abandoned. Thisapplication Oct. 22, 1969, Ser. No. 868,353

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee PIVOTALLY MOUNTED STARTER BARIN A CONTINUOUS CASTING MACHINE 14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 164/274, 164/282 Int. Cl. 822d 1 1/08 Field of Search 164/274,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,209,922 10/1965 Melvin214/1 B1) 3,433,287 3/1969 Greenberger. 164/274 3,528,486 9/1970 Golde164/274 3,540,522 11/1970 McDermott et al. 164/269 X FOREIGN PATENTS982,981 2/1965 Great Britain 164/282 Primary Examiner-Robert D. BaldwinAttorneys-Sherman H. Barber and Olin E. Williams ABSTRACT: A shortstarter bar is pivotally connected to a radial arm that is poweroperated and is movable through an angle in a plane to bring the starterbar into cooperative relation with a continuous casting mold. Acombination pinch and straightener roll assembly acts on the cast strandto withdraw it from the mold and to disconnect the strand from thestarter bar.

PATENTEU m2? m1 SHEET 2 BF a INVENTOR.

//4A?7M,4A/ MITCHELL PIVOTALLY MOUNTED STARTER BAR IN A CONTINUOUSCASTING MACHINE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This applicationis a continuation in part of Application Ser. No. 813,56l, filed Apr. 4,1969 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to continuous metalcasting and, more particularly, to a starter bar for withdrawing a caststrand from a continuous casting mold. The invention relates further tonovel strand withdrawal and strand starter bar disconnect apparatus.

Heretofore, starter bars for closing the bottom of a continuous castingmold and for withdrawing the cast strand from the mold were either anarticulated bar made up of a plurality of interconnected links, or asolid starter bar that is either curved or straight. In any case, thestarter bars known heretofore had to belong enough to extend from thecasting mold to the pinch rolls, or other suitable strand-withdrawalmechanism. Such bars are very cumbersome units to handle, and it hasbeen necessary to also to provide costly guide chutes and starteraccessory equipment to handle such starter bars. Further, the starterbars of the prior art required the use of considerable valuable space inthe overall continuous casting machine.

The starter bar and pinch-straightener roll apparatus of the presentinvention, however, overcomes the known disadvantages of the prior artdevices, and both are simple in design and effective in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A short starter bar is pivotally mounted to aradial arm that is movable along an arcuate path to bring the starterbar into cooperative sealing relation with the bottom of the continuouscasting mold. The starter bar also cooperates with a disconnect rollassembly to separate the starter bar from a continuous cast strand thatis withdrawn from the mold by the starter bar.

For a further understanding of the invention and for features andadvantages thereof, reference may be made to the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the drawing which shows, for the purpose ofexemplification, embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a portion of a continuouscasting machine incorporating a starting bar in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic elevational view of a portion of a continuouscasting machine incorporating an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic elevational view, similar to FIG. 3, of anotherembodiment of the invention:

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of the apparatus ofFIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line VI-VI of FIGS. 3 and 4; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a pinchstraightener assemblyin accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1, a continuous casting mold 11 issupported in a conventional manner by a mold-oscillating unit 13 thatmay be similar to the structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,409,070.The mold-oscillating unit 13 is supported on fixed structural beams 15.

Below the structural beams 15, there is a spray chamber 17 that includesone-slotted side 19 for a purpose that will be described hereinafter.The spray chamber 17 is supported on a spray floor 21 in a conventionalmanner.

' Beneath the spray floor there is a plurality of strand-supportingrollers 23 of an apron structure that are arranged on a circular arc ina usual manner.

A set of power-driven pinch rolls 25 are arranged so as to engage thestrand and are located about where shown in FIG. 1. Such rollers arepowered by a drive shaft 27 connected to a source of power 29 that issupported upon a fixed base 31.

Beyond the pinch roll set 25 there is a curved strand-reheating furnace33, and just beyond that. there is a first strandreducing-roll stand 35.

The structural beams 15 extend outwardly toward the left, as viewed inFIG. 1, and support the upper end of an arcuate guide rail or bar 37.The lower end 39 of the guide rail is a cam that is curved downwardrather sharply as shown in FIG. 1, and the lower cam end of the guiderail may be supported by either a suitable fixed structure such as theI-beams shown in FIG. 1, or in any other suitable manner.

An arcuate-starting bar 41 is provided with a head end portion 43, amiddle body portion 45, and a lower end portion 47.

The head end portion 43 is fashioned as a hook 49, and the hook 49cooperates with a conventional expendable member (not shown) to whichthe molten metal of the cast strand solidifies.

The middle body portion 45 is angularly shaped, as shown in FIG. 1, andmerges with the head end 43 and with the lower end portion 47. The lowerend portion 47 is generally rectangularly shaped and four rollers 51a, 5lb, 51c, 51d are mounted to the lower end portion and coact with theguide rail or bar 37, and with the lower end or cam 39. Of course, othersuitable members may be attached to the lower end that cooperate withthe guide rail and cam in the manner described hereinafter.

The rolls 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d are journaled in cantilever fashion (FIG.2) to the low end portion 47, and the shaft 53 that supports roller 51balso pivotally supports one end of a two-part telescopical arm 55. Theinner portion of the twopart telescopical arm 55 is pivotally connectedto a fixed adjacent supporting structure 57, while the outer arm portionis provided with a plurality of rollers 58 that coact with guide bars 60secured to the inner arm portion. Thus, both parts of the arm 55 aremaintained in alignment when the arm telescopes in the manner describedhereinafter.

Arm 55 carries pivot 59 to which is pivotally mounted a piston-cylinderassembly 61. The free end of the piston portion of the assembly 61 ispivotally mounted as at 63 to the fixed adjacent structure 57, aboutwhere shown in FIG. ll.

In operation, the starting bar 41 is initially in a first position,shown in phantom in FIG. 1, at which location the starting bar remainsinoperatively during most of the time required to cast strand 65.

At the start of a casting sequence, the two-part telescopial arm 55 isurged by the fluid actuated pisiton-cylinder assembly 61 to pivot in acounterclockwise direction, and the arm 55 carries with it the startingbar 41.

The starting bar 41 moves upwardly until the free, head-end portion 43,and the expendable member mentioned previously are inserted into thebottom of the mold 11 in the usual manner. After packing and chill rodsare inserted in place, in accordance with usual practice, hot moltenmetal is introduced into the mold. When the molten metal reaches aproper depth in the mold, the piston-cylinder assembly is actuated againto pivot the arm 55 clockwise.

The arm 55 then withdraws the starting bar 41 and the cast strand 65from the mold 11. The starting bar 41 and the cast strand 65 follow apath that is generally parallel to the arcuate portion of the guide rail37. The cast strand 65 is supported by the apron rollers 23 in the usualmanner.

The arm 55 withdraws the starting bar 41 and the cast strand 65 at aproper and desired casting speed, and the starting bar 41 and caststrand 65 pass through the spray chamber 17 wherein sprays of water coolthe outer surface of the cast strand in the usual manner. The startingbar 41 passes through the slotted face 19 of the spray chamber and, ifdesired, the

slot itself may be provided with a flexible flap which will preventspray water from escaping from the spray chamber once the starting bar41 has moved downwardly past the spray chamber 17.

As the head end portion 43 passes through the open pinch rolls 25, thepinch rolls 25 close around the cast strand 65 and coact therewith toprovide the withdrawal force needed. At the same time, the wheels 51a,51b, 51c, 51d are approaching the downwardly curved cam portion 39. Whenrolls 51b and 510 reach the cam end portion 39, they exert a forcemoment about rolls 51a and 51d that urge the free head end portion 43 topivot counterclockwise, and thereby the head end portion disconnectsfrom the end of the cast strand 65. The cast strand 65 is, of course,now being removed from the mold under the influence of the pinch rolls25.

. When the starting bar 41 reaches the initial position shown in phantomin FIG. 1, it remains in such first position during the remainder of thecasting period. From this initial position, the starting bar 41 isreadily available and it moves upwardly, as mentioned previously, tocommence a casting cycle.

After the starting bar is disconnected, the cast strand passes throughthe curved reheating furnace an thence on through the firststrand'reduction roll stand.

As soon as the rollers of the reduction roll stand close on the caststrand, the pinch rolls are released, and the cast strand is thencontrolled by the speed of the strand-reduction roll stand.

FIG. 3 shows a curved continuous casting mold 111 that is oscillatablevertically in the usual manner, and beneath the curved mold 111, a spraychamber 113. Within the spray chamber 113 and extending therebelow arearcuate continuously extending cast strand guide sections 115a, and 115bon which a cast strand 1 17 rests after it emerges from the casting mold111. The cast strand guide sections 115a, 115b are sup ported and fixedto adjacent structure at locations such as 119, 121, 123. At each of thelocations 121, 123, a cast strand side guide 125 is provided to maintainthe cast strand 117 on the strand guide sections 115a, 1 b.

Adjacent the lower end of the cast strand guide section 115b, there is apinch-straightener roll mechanism 127 which is shown in FIG. 7, andwhich is described hereinafter in greater detail.

Above the pinch-straightener roll mechanism 127 there is a gear segment129, a pinion 131, a pinion drive mechanism 133, and a starter bar arm135, all of which are mounted to fixed supporting structure 137.

The gear segment 129 is journaled to a shaft 139 that is mounted inbearings 141 connected to a suitable foundation 143; the foundation 143being fixed to the supporting structure 137.

The gear segment 129 is constantly in engagement with the pinion 131which is journaled, as at 145, to the supporting structure 137. Thepinion 131 is driven by a pinion drive mechanism 133 which may be anelectric motor-speedreducer assembly, an hydraulic motor assemblyspeed-reducer assembly, or any other suitable powered mechanism.

The pinion drive mechanism is provided with a torque arm 147 whichconnects to a torque arm bracket 149 fixed to the supporting structure137. The torque arm 147 resists turning of the pinion drive mechanismabout the pinion axis when the mechanism is in operation.

The starting bar arm 135 is welded or otherwise suitably fixed to thegear segment 12 9 and carries at its remote outer end a shoe 151 whichis substantially square in cross section (FIG. 6). To the shoe 151,there is pivotally connected an arcuate starter bar 153 which isprovided with a T-headed end 155, as shown in FIG. 5.

The T-headed end 155 cooperates with a T-shaped slot 157 and adetachable head portion 159. The head portion 159 is provided with anoutwardly protruding T-portion 161 that is adapted to coact with thesolidified metal at the end of the cast strand 117, wherefore thestarter bar 153 can withdraw the cast strand 117 from the mold 111.

The head end portion 159 has two transversely extending holes 163, 165through it. In one of the holes 163 there is a steel-tapered pin 167which pierces the T-portion 161 and secures it to the head portion 159.When the cast strand is cold, the tapered pin 167 may be removed and thehead portion 159 may be recovered and reused. In the other hole 165,there is a soft aluminum pin 169 which extends through a matching hole171 in the T-headed end 155. The soft alu minum pin 169, which may ofcourse be made of any other suitable material, readily shears underconditions described hereinafter and the starter bar 153 disconnectsfrom the head portion 159.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the castingmold 111, the spray chamber 113, the cast strand guide sections 115a,115b, the guide support locations 119, 121, 123, the side guides 125,and the pinch-straightener roll assembly 127 are identical to thosedescribed previously; and further description at this time is consideredunnecessary.

However, a starter bar 173 which is identical to the starter bar 153described hereinbefore is pivotally connected to a starter bar shoe 175that is welded, or otherwise suitably fixed to a starter bar arm 177.The starter bar arm 177 depends from a platform 179 that carries ashaft-mounted pinion 181 and a pinion-driving mechanism 183. Thepinion-driving mechanism 183 includes an electric or hydraulic motor 185that is operatively connected to a speed reducer 187, and a speedreducer output sprocket 189 is chain connected to drive a bull gear 191fixed to the same shaft as the pinion shaft.

The platform 179 and all of its attendant equipment is in effect atrolley having sets of rollers 193 that coact with an arcuate guide rail195 fixedly mounted to adjacent supporting structure, such as inindicated by I-beams 197 disposed about where shown in FIG. 4.

The lower arcuate surface of the guide rail carries an arcuate rack 199which coacts with the pinion 181 so that the platform 179 or trolley andthe starting arm 177 may be moved arcuately from one end to the otherend of the guide rail 195.

Adjacent the midlength location of the guide rail 195 and near one ofthe I-beam supports 197, there is a support 201 that carries a reel 203on which a retractable power supply cable or fluid-conducting hose 205is wound. The power supply cable 205 delivers electric power to theelectric motor 185 if such is used, or the hose 205 delivers hydraulicfluid to the hydraulic motor 185 if such is used.

FIG. 7 illustrates the pinch-straightener roll mechanism 127 whichincludes a structural support member 207 to which is fixed a verticalcolumnar member 209. At the left-hand side of the apparatus 127 of FIG.7, there is a tabular support 211 which carries a pair of bearing 213that support a horizontal shaft 215.

The horizontal shaft is driven by a sprocket 217 mounted thereto, andone overhanging end carries a roller 219.

Toward the right-hand side of the apparatus 127, as viewed in FIG. 7,there extends a fixed horizontally extending cast strand supporting bar221 that is suitably supported upon the base member 207 by a verticalstrut 223. Further toward the right an beyond the strut 223, theremounted a disconnect reaction roller 225 which is associated with astarter bar guide member 227. The purpose of the disconnect reactionroller 225 and the starter bar guide member 227 will become evident froma further description of the apparatus 127 in action.

The vertical columnar member 209 pivotally carries two spaced apartstructures 229, 231, respectively, that are journaled to a common shaft233.

The structure 229 carries a roller 235 that is journaled in bearings 237mounted to the structure 229. The structure 229 is also pivotallyconnected to a cylinder-piston 239 which is connected to the verticalcolumnar member 209 about as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the roller 235 ispivotal about the shaft 233 as a center.

Likewise, the structure 231 is also connected to a cylinderpistonassembly 241 that is connected to the vertical columnar member 209 inthe same way the cylinder-piston assembly 239 is connected, and is,therefore, pivotal above the shaft 233. The structure 231 carries a setof bearings 243 that support a horizontally extending shaft (not shown)on which is mounted a driven sprocket 245 and a roller 247. The roller247 is substantially above and vertically aligned with the bottom orlower fixed roller 219.

An electric motor or an hydraulic motor type of power source 249 ismounted as shown at the right-hand side of the apparatus 127, and,chains 251 surrounding the sprockets 217, 245 also coact with sprockets(not shown) driven by the power apparatus 249.

Now, referring to FIG. 3 in order to understand the operation of theapparatus, it will be assumed that initially the starter bar 153 is inthe position shown in solid lines at the right-hand side of FIG. 3; thisbeing the position in which the starter bar rests after it has beendisconnected from the continuous cast strand withdrawn during a previouscycle. While in the position shown, a new head portion 159 is installedon the T-head end portion 155 of the starter bar in readiness for usewhen the next strand is to be cast.

When the mold 111 is ready to receive the starter bar in order to closethe bottom of the mold prior to the commencement of another cast, thepinion-drive mechanism 133 is actuated to rotate the gear segment andstarter bar arm clockwise through an angle of about 1 The starter barthen enters the bottom of the mold, about as shown in the phantomoutline in FIG. 3, and the mold is temporarily sealed in the usualmanner prior to the introduction of molten steel into the mold.

When it is determined to commence withdrawing the continuous cast strandfrom the mold, the pinion drive mechanism is reversed to rotate the gearsegment and the starter bar arm counterclockwise. The cast strand, uponemerging from the mold, contacts and is supported by the strand guidesections. The gear segment and starter bar continue to rotatecounterclockwise withdrawing the caststrand until a resilient finger 253on the gear segment actuates a control switch 255 located on thesupporting structure 137 or other comparable structure.

When the resiliently mounted finger actuates the switch 255, a solenoidfluid-control valve is actuated which results in the movement of thedisconnect roller 235 downward into en gagement with the cast strand.The starter bar, being supported by the reaction roller 225, does notmove, but the disconnect roller 235 exerts enough force on the strand toshear the soft aluminum pin 169, wherefore the starter bar isdisconnected from the head portion that remains connected to the caststrand. The cast strand then proceeds horizontally toward the right, asviewed in FIGS. 3 and 7. The starter bar then remains in the positionshown by the solid outline of FIG. 3, which is the final position ofrest during the remaining period of the withdrawing cycle of the caststrand.

The apparatus of FIG. 4 operates similarly to that of FIG. 3 with theexception that the trolley moves from an initial position shown in solidoutline to the position shown in phantom at the left-hand side of FIG.4. It should be noted that the reel 203 is rotatable one way when it isnecessary to extend the cable or nose 205, and is rotatable in the otherdirection to retract the cable or nose when the trolley passes close tothe reel.

A resilient finger 253 and switch 255 are mounted on the trolley andguide rail, respectively, which switch when actuated by the fingeractuates a solenoid fluid-control valve tat results in the downwardmovement of the disconnect cylinderpiston thereby lowering thedisconnect roll 235 in the manner described previously.

Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize that many other waysof driving the short continuous casting starter bar of the invention arepossible; such as, pivoting an arm carrying a short starter bar with apower driven pinion mounted to the arm. The pinion cooperates with acurved rack whereby, when the pinion is actuated, the arm pivots aboutit and drives the short starter bar upward into cooperation with acontinuous casting mold.

in like manner, a pivoted arm carrying a short starter bar may be movedby an hydraulic cylinder-piston arrangement. These are only a few or theother possible ways to drive a short starter bar.

Those skilled in the art will recognize from the foregoing descriptionof embodiments of the invention several significant features andadvantages among which are:

That the starter bar is pivoted to the shoe wherefore the starter barcan enter and cooperate easier with the bottom of the continuous castingmold; and

That the pinch-straightener roll assembly with cantilevered rollseliminates the need for a separate set of electrical controls usuallyrequired to synchronize separate pinch rolls and separate straightenerrolls.

What is claimed is:

1. in a continuous casting machine with a vertically reciprocable moldwherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand theimprovement comprising:

a. an arm moveable along an arcuate path,

b. a starter bar mounted to said arm;

means to move said arm from a first position to a second position atwhich said starter bar cooperates with and closes said mold beforemolten metal is introduced thereinto to initiate said cast strands;

d. means to move said arm and said starter bar from said second positiontoward said first position thereby withdrawing said cast strand from:said mold; and

e. means to disconnect said starter bar from said cast strand beforesaid arm reaches said first position.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

a. said means includes,

i. a segmental gear to which said arm is secured, and ii. means to pivotsaid segmental gear about an axis.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

a. said means includes;

i. a trolley to which said arm is secured, said trolley having wheelsthat coact with ii. a fixed guide rail; and

iii. means to move said trolley on said guide rail.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

a. said starter bar is pivotally mounted to said arm.

5. In a continuous casting machine: including a vertically reciprocablemold wherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand,the improvement comprising:

a. a starter bar for closing said mold initially and for withdrawingsaid cast strand from the mold, said bar including i. a head end portionreleasably connectable to said strand;

b. an arcuate guide rail located in spaced relation to the pathtraversed by said cast strand after it leaves said mold;

c. means connecting said starter bar to said guide rail for guiding saidstarter bar along an arcuate path defined by the said guide rail;

d. means to move said starter bar along said path and into cooperativerelation with said mold, and to withdraw said bar and casting from saidmold; and

e. means to disconnect said head end portion from said cast strand.

6. In a continuous casting machine including a vertically reciprocablemold wherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand,the improvement comprising:

a. a starter bar for closing said mold initially and for withdrawingsaid cast strand from said mold including:

i. a head end portion having means adapted to releasably connect saidstarter bar to said cast strand,

ii. a middle body portion secured to said head end portion, and

iii. a lower end portion secured to said middle body portion;

b. a guide rail secured in position adjacent the path traveled by saidcast strand when it leaves said mold, said guide rail having a camportion fused thereto;

means connected to said lower end portion and coactive with said guiderail so that said head end portion follows a path determined by saidguide rail;

. means to move said head end portion from an inoperative The inventionof claim 6 wherein:

said means connected to said lower end portion includes a plurality ofrollers that cooperate with said guide rail. The invention of claim 6wherein:

said means to move said head end portion includes:

i. an arm pivotally attached to said starter bar,

ii. a support to which said arm is pivotally attached, and iii. means topivot said arm.

The invention of claim 8 wherein:

said arm is telescopical; and

said means to pivot the arm is a fluid actuated pistoncylinder assembly.

10. In a continuous casting machine including a vertically reciprocablemold wherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand,the improvement comprising:

a starter bar for closing said mold initially and for withdrawing saidcast strand from said mold including; i. a head end portion having meansadapted to releasably connect a starter bar to said cast strand,

. a middle body portion secured to said head end portion,

and iii. a lower end portion secured to said middle body portion;

. a guide rail secured in a position substantially parallel tomeans topivot said arm about said fixed support whereby said arm moves saidstarter bar from a first inoperative position into cooperative relationwith said mold to close the bottom thereof; means to pivot said armabout said fixed support whereby said arm withdraws said starter bar andsaid cast strand from said mold; and

. means to bring said rollers into cooperative relation with said camportion whereby said starter bar disconnects from said strand andassumes an inoperative attitude in said first position l l. Theinvention of claim 10 wherein:

a. said means to pivot said arm includes a fluid actuatedpiston-cylinder assembly that is pivotally connected to said arm and tosaid fixed support.

12. in a continuous casting machine with a vertically reciprocable moldwherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand, theimprovement comprising:

a. a gear segment pivotally mounted for movement about an axis locatedadjacent said mold,

b. a starter bar mounted to said gear segment;

c. a pinion coacting with said gear segment;

d. means for actuating said pinion for pivoting said gear segment andmoving said starter bar into said mold whereby the bottom thereof isclosed and molten metal is retained therein to initiate said caststrand, and e. apparatus for withdrawing said cast strand from said moldand for disconnecting said starter bar from said cast strand.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein:

a. said apparatus for withdrawing said cast strand from said mold andfor disconnecting said starter bar from said cast strand comprising:

i. a frame,

ii. a first power-driven roller cantilever mounted and fixed to saidframe,

iii. a second power-driven roller cantilever mounted to a first unitpivoted to said frame above said first roller,

iv. means to pivot an locate said second roller in spaced relation tosaid first roller whereby said first and second rollers coact with saidcast strand,

v. means to drive said first and second rollers whereby said cast strandis withdrawn from said mold,

vi. a third roller fixed and cantilever mounted to said frame anddisposed in spaced relation to said first and second rollers,

vii. a fourth roller cantilever mounted to a second unit pivoted to saidframe and disposed between said third and said first rollers,

viii. means to pivot said fourth roller into engagement with said caststrand whereby said cast strand is disconnected from said starter barwhich reacts with said third roller.

14. In a continuous casting machine with a vertically reciprocable moldwherein molten metal partially solidifies an forms a cast strand, thecombination therewith comprising:

a. an arm movable along an arcuate path,

b. a starter bar mounted to said arm c. means to move said arm from afirst position to a second position at which said starter bar cooperateswith and closes said mold before molten metal is introduced thereinto toinitiate said cast strand; and

d. means to withdraw said starter bar and said cast strand from saidmold, and i. a first pair of powered rollers one of which is pivotallymounted to a frame and the other of which is fixed to the frame, andwith ii. a movable second roller that acts upon said cast strand todisconnect it from said starter bar.

33 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CQRRECTIQN Patent No.3,628,595 Dated em er 21, 1971 Inven tor s) Hartman Mitnhell It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 1, line 21, before "means" insert c) line 24, change "strands", tostrand Claim 6, line 75, change "fused", to fixed Claim 10, line 40,change he" to the Claim 13, line 28, change "an" to and Claim 14, line44, change "an" to and Signed and sealed this 2 +th day of April 1973(SEAL) Attest:

EDY'IARD M. FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting GfficerCommissioner of Patents

1. In a continuous casting machine with a vertically reciprocable moldwherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand theimprovement comprising: a. an arm moveable along an arcuate path, b. astarter bar mounted to said arm; means to move said arm from a firstposition to a second position at which said starter bar cooperates withand closes said mold before molten metal is introduced thereinto toinitiate said cast strands; d. means to move said arm and said starterbar from said second position toward said first position therebywithdrawing said cast strand from said mold; and e. means to disconnectsaid starter bar from said cast strand before said arm reaches saidfirst position.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said meansincludes, i. a segmental gear to which said arm is secured, and ii.means to pivot said segmental gear about an axis.
 3. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein: a. said means includes; i. a trolley to which said armis secured, said trolley having wheels that coact with ii. a fixed guiderail; and iii. means to move said trolley on said guide rail.
 4. Theinvention of claim 1 wherein: a. said starter bar is pivotally mountedto said arm.
 5. In a continuous casting machine including a verticallyreciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms acast strand, the improvement comprising: a. a starter bar for closingsaid mold initially and for withdrawing said cast strand from the mold,said bar including i. a head end portion releasably connectable to saidstrand; b. an arcuate guide rail located in spaced relation to the pathtraversed by said cast strand after it leaves said mold; c. meansconnecting said starter bar to said guide rail for guiding said starterbar along an arcuate path defined by the said guide rail; d. means tomove said starter bar along said path and into cooperative relation withsaid mold, and to withdraw said bar and casting from said mold; and e.means to diSconnect said head end portion from said cast strand.
 6. In acontinuous casting machine including a vertically reciprocable moldwherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand, theimprovement comprising: a. a starter bar for closing said mold initiallyand for withdrawing said cast strand from said mold including: i. a headend portion having means adapted to releasably connect said starter barto said cast strand, ii. a middle body portion secured to said head endportion, and iii. a lower end portion secured to said middle bodyportion; b. a guide rail secured in position adjacent the path traveledby said cast strand when it leaves said mold, said guide rail having acam portion fused thereto; c. means connected to said lower end portionand coactive with said guide rail so that said head end portion followsa path determined by said guide rail; d. means to move said head endportion from an inoperative position into cooperative relation with saidmold whereby said mold is closed at the bottom and molten metal isretained therein to initiate said cast strand; e. means to move saidstarter bar away from said mold whereby said starter bar withdraws saidcast strand from said mold; and f. means to bring said means mounted tosaid lower end portion into coactive relation with said cam portionwhereby said head end portion is released from said cast strand and saidstarting bar is disposed in said inoperative position.
 7. The inventionof claim 6 wherein: a. said means connected to said lower end portionincludes a plurality of rollers that cooperate with said guide rail. 8.The invention of claim 6 wherein: a. said means to move said head endportion includes: i. an arm pivotally attached to said starter bar, ii.a support to which said arm is pivotally attached, and iii. means topivot said arm.
 9. The invention of claim 8 wherein: a. said arm istelescopical; and b. said means to pivot the arm is a fluid actuatedpiston-cylinder assembly.
 10. In a continuous casting machine includinga vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifiesand forms a cast strand, the improvement comprising: a. a starter barfor closing said mold initially and for withdrawing said cast strandfrom said mold including; i. a head end portion having means adapted toreleasably connect a starter bar to said cast strand, ii. a middle bodyportion secured to said head end portion, and iii. a lower end portionsecured to said middle body portion; b. a guide rail secured in aposition substantially parallel to he path traveled by said cast strandwhen it leaves said mold, said guide rail having a cam portion fixedthereto; c. a plurality of rollers mounted to said starter bar thatcooperate with said guide rail and cam to support said starter bar sothat said starting bar head end portion follows the path traversed bysaid cast strand; d. an arm pivotally attached to said starter bar andto a fixed support; e. means to pivot said arm about said fixed supportwhereby said arm moves said starter bar from a first inoperativeposition into cooperative relation with said mold to close the bottomthereof; f. means to pivot said arm about said fixed support wherebysaid arm withdraws said starter bar and said cast strand from said mold;and g. means to bring said rollers into cooperative relation with saidcam portion whereby said starter bar disconnects from said strand andassumes an inoperative attitude in said first position
 11. The inventionof claim 10 wherein: a. said means to pivot said arm includes a fluidactuated piston-cylinder assembly that is pivotally connected to saidarm and to said fixed support.
 12. In a continuous casting machine witha vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifiesand forms a cast strand, the improvement comprising: a. a gear segmentpIvotally mounted for movement about an axis located adjacent said mold,b. a starter bar mounted to said gear segment; c. a pinion coacting withsaid gear segment; d. means for actuating said pinion for pivoting saidgear segment and moving said starter bar into said mold whereby thebottom thereof is closed and molten metal is retained therein toinitiate said cast strand, and e. apparatus for withdrawing said caststrand from said mold and for disconnecting said starter bar from saidcast strand.
 13. The invention of claim 12 wherein: a. said apparatusfor withdrawing said cast strand from said mold and for disconnectingsaid starter bar from said cast strand comprising: i. a frame, ii. afirst power-driven roller cantilever mounted and fixed to said frame,iii. a second power-driven roller cantilever mounted to a first unitpivoted to said frame above said first roller, iv. means to pivot anlocate said second roller in spaced relation to said first rollerwhereby said first and second rollers coact with said cast strand, v.means to drive said first and second rollers whereby said cast strand iswithdrawn from said mold, vi. a third roller fixed and cantilevermounted to said frame and disposed in spaced relation to said first andsecond rollers, vii. a fourth roller cantilever mounted to a second unitpivoted to said frame and disposed between said third and said firstrollers, viii. means to pivot said fourth roller into engagement withsaid cast strand whereby said cast strand is disconnected from saidstarter bar which reacts with said third roller.
 14. In a continuouscasting machine with a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metalpartially solidifies an forms a cast strand, the combination therewithcomprising: a. an arm movable along an arcuate path, b. a starter barmounted to said arm c. means to move said arm from a first position to asecond position at which said starter bar cooperates with and closessaid mold before molten metal is introduced thereinto to initiate saidcast strand; and d. means to withdraw said starter bar and said caststrand from said mold, and i. a first pair of powered rollers one ofwhich is pivotally mounted to a frame and the other of which is fixed tothe frame, and with ii. a movable second roller that acts upon said caststrand to disconnect it from said starter bar.